While everyone has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, many older adults have experienced a major shift in their day to day life. Because of the elevated risk when exposed to the virus, time with grandparents has been limited.
If your family is lucky enough to make memories between generations this fall, there are several ways to help ensure they’re as special as possible. If there’s one thing 2020 has taught us, it’s that going back to the basics can be a good thing. That applies to spending quality time with grandparents as well.
The memories your kids make with your parents or in-laws don’t have to be from big family vacations or trips to the zoo. Sometimes the littlest moments are the ones that mean the most.
Ordinary Activities That Can Make Time Spent With Grandparents Extra Special
While not everyone will enjoy the same activities, use this list to find a few fun things to do with grandparents that work for your family.
The Best Activities for Grandparents and Younger Kids
Read Together
There’s nothing like sitting down with grandparents and having them read to you. As if they weren’t already, Grandma and Grandpa are about to get promoted to hero-status. Have your kids pick two of their favorite books to read. Snap some pictures in the background as you watch those precious moments.
Do Puzzles
While your kids won’t sit for 30 seconds with you, they love showing off to everyone else. Puzzles are a quiet activity that will keep the kids and grandparent’s minds sharp as they work together to get all the pieces where they belong. Grab that camera for when the puzzle is finished and capture those smiling faces.
Build Something
Now is the time to get creative. Encourage your kids to grab blocks, Lincoln Logs, Legos, etc. and start building something cool with their grandparents. Watch as the imagination of two different generations work together to make the tallest tower, the longest log cabin, or a superhero’s house.
Do an Art Project
Have you ever heard of a brag book? It’s where grandparents keep pictures of their grandkids to show their friends. Send Grandma home with an extra special addition to her book by having an art project ready to go. She will truly treasure the masterpiece even if no one else can tell what it is.
The Best Activities for Grandparents and Older Kids
Play Cards
Grandparents love a deck of cards. Have them teach their favorite card games to your kids and watch them be entertained for hours. If they need some ideas, suggest games like Crazy Eights, War, and Rummy.
Bake a Family Recipe
Kids love to hear stories of Grandma and Grandpa’s past. Get them talking about the “olden days” by asking about their favorite family recipes. Have the ingredients on hand so your kids and their grandparents can make the dish together. Then, enjoy eating as a family. And don’t forget to take those pictures in the process!
Play Board Games
Playing board games is a close second to cards when it comes to spending time with grandparents. Clue and Monopoly make for great options for some friendly competition. Will Grandpa let someone else win or will he continue to hold the reign?
Tips For Spending Quality Time With Grandparents
- Keep kids engaged and away from the screen by having fun activities out and ready to play.
- Have more than one activity available to do so kids and grandparents don’t get bored
Document the time with photos and try sneaking in a few shots in when no one is looking. - Encourage one-on-one time with each child so everyone feels like they had their time with Grandma or Grandpa.
Time with grandparents is always important but this year has taught us not to take it for granted. Enjoy watching your favorite people interact with one another.
